The Russian Blue Cat

The Russian Blue cat ’s
origins are left to stories and legends.
A distinctive plush double coat sets this breed apart as distinctive.
Once
called the “Archangel Cat” or “Foreign Blue” they came by way of
England in the
1860s and have ties to royalty not only those from Russia but as a pet
of Queen
Victoria. The English first showed the Archangel Cat in
1875 but it
wasn’t
until 1912 that they earned a class of their own.

The breed is thought to
have come to the USA
in early
1900s but it was only after World War II they drew an American
following. The
English had developed a cat with a plush blue coat and the European
breeders
favored green eyes and a more flattened profile.

This
is a gentle, friendly
cat that loves attention. They
give the visual appearance of a blue cat with each hair silver dipped
before
attaching to the cat. Unlike some breeds with a variety of colors the
Russian Blue
cat is
always blue with short hair and green eyes. They are fine boned and
long bodied.
The distinct color and coat stands out as does their normally
affectionate
nature. They are normally quiet, somewhat shy cats but with those they
know and
trust are very devoted and affectionate.

They are also intelligent
cats! These are the cats that
learn to open doors and sense the mood of their owners. They normally
get along
well with other pets and children and their undemanding nature fits
well in
many modern homes. They are low maintenance from a
grooming standpoint
but
often enjoy being brushed because it means being with their owner. They
are
quite willing to entertain themselves also!

This is a medium sized
cat and as their coat is
their
distinctive characteristic it is little surprise it scores
heavily in
show
standards. Twenty points are given to coat, color, body and head and
neck
equally, with ten points to eye color and five each to eye shape and
ears. The
show cat should be in good physical condition with firm muscle tone and
an
alert demeanor. The body is fine boned and long with a graceful
appearance that
has balance. The coat should be short, fine, dense and plush and a
distinct
soft, silky feel due to a double coat.

Disqualifications include
abnormal tail, incorrect number of
toes, long hair or any color other than blue.

Although extra toes can
be a disqualification for a Russian Blue cat in shows it
doesn’t disqualify a cat from being a great pet. Don’t overlook a
wonderful cat
due to being unshowable if you are seeking a pet.

The Russian Blue cat is a cat
that can
often be reserved. Some will love
everyone, but more typically a Russian Blue chooses you, often hiding
to
observe for a while. Sitting quietly and offering a toy, as if ignoring
the
cat, can tempt this lovely animal from hiding and offer a friendship.

They are less likely to
adapt well to changes than some
other breeds. They are long lived and enjoy order and quiet. They can
be loners
of the cat world – less happy in larger numbers. Those wishing to show
must
push the socialization card which is a delicate balance for a breed
that is
naturally reserved.